As he prepares for the release of new album Carrie & Lowell, singer, songwriter and sometimes-filmmaker Sufjan Stevens sat down with Pitchfork to discuss the stories behind his new record Carrie & Lowell (it’s named after his mother and stepfather), but he also talked about the faith that has been a theme of his music since the beginning. The outlet asked the 39-year-old artist what his faith meant to him at this point in his life, and he said,
I still describe myself as a Christian, and my love of God and my relationship with God is fundamental, but its manifestations in my life and the practices of it are constantly changing. I find incredible freedom in my faith. Yes, the kingdom of Christianity and the Church has been one of the most destructive forces in history, and there are levels of bastardization of religious beliefs. But the unique thing about Christianity is that it is so amorphous and not reductive to culture or place or anything. It’s extremely malleable.
This week Stevens released a track from the new album, “No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross,” a song that is a call back to his earlier, signature folk sound, but takes a darker, more complex view of faith. You can hear the track (and read the lyrics, which do contain some strong language) here. Carrie & Lowell hits drops on March 31 …
